The chemical study of the Brazilian brittle star Ophionereis reticulata led to the isolation of three chamigrene sesquiterpenes, including the partially characterized isoobtusadiene (1), its unreported acetyl derivative (2), and the known (+)-elatol (3). The complete elucidation of the structures 1 and 2 was accomplished by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The first assignment of the absolute configuration of the isoobtusadiene skeleton is suggested as 6S,9R,10S on the basis of the NMR analysis of the Mosher's ester derivatives of 1 and the ECD study of the acetyl derivative 2. Chamigrenes are typical constituents of Laurencia red algae. O. reticulata is a predator with a preference for algae. Thus, the origin of these metabolites can be likely ascribed to diet.

This is the first report of the genus Stibarobdella for Northeastern Brazil. Two specimens isolated from the host were identified in the invertebrate collection at LIMCe (Laboratório de Invertebrados Marinhos do Ceará). The specimens were collected off Paracuru town, a coastal location in Ceará State, Northeastern Brazil (3°25′31″ S, 39°1′29″ W), at a depth of 40 m on July 13th, 1977. The host elasmobranch from which the specimens were retrieved Marine leeches, especially those with parasitic habits, are important components of the ecosystem (Siddal and Burreson 1998; Utevsky and Trontelj 2004; Wunderlich et al. 2011). Approximately twenty species of marine leeches, all of which of the family Piscicolidae, feed on blood from sharks and rays and are known to be vectors of elasmobranch hematozoa (Caira and Healy 2004; Utevsky and Trontelj 2004). Most piscicolids are circumglobal in tropical and subtropical oceans (Utevsky and Tronjelj 2004). Marine leeches feeding on elasmobranchs have previously been reported for

A new Late Cretaceous species of Petalobrissus, Petalobrissus lehugueurae sp. nov., is described from the Jandaíra Formation, Potiguar Basin, state of Rio Grande do Norte. To date, this genus comprises a total of 20 species, only two of which, Petalobrissus setifensis and Petalobrissus cubensis have so far been recorded from the Jandaíra Formation. Petalobrissus lehugeurae sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners in that gonopores occupy only a small portion of the genital plates, in having a slit-like periproct and a unique abrupt depression of the test that forms a pronounced keel below the periproct. In addition, an identification key to species of Petalobrissus is presented.

Ofiuroides da família Gorgonocephalidae são pouco encontrados no litoral brasileiro. Dentre essas a espécie Asteroporpa (Asteroporpa) annulata é representada por apenas um único exemplar que se encontra depositado em coleção cientifica. Dessa forma o presente trabalho tem como objetivo incluir um novo registro dessa espécie para o Brasil. Um único indivíduo dessa espécie foi obtido em novembro de 1990 a partir de uma amostra da expedição cientifica MAR XV realizada pelo Navio Oceanográfico alemão Victor Hensen. Esse achado sustenta a presença dessa espécie para o Brasil, representa um novo registro para o estado do Ceará e diminui a lacuna na distribuição conhecida dessa espécie.

Saurophagy constitutes an important source of mortality among lizards and has been reported for the genus Tropidurus. However, the extension of this behavior remains unknown. Herein, we record the predation of T. jaguaribanus by its congener T. hispidus. This is the first report of saurophagy among different species of syntopic Tropidurus. Furthermore, whereas published records of saurophagy tend to be directed against juveniles, this case involved two adult individuals. Keywords: Predation, mortality, agonistic interactions, Tropiduridae, Caatinga. Resumo: A saurofagia constitui uma importante fonte de mortalidade entre lagartos e tem sido reportada para o gênero Tropidurus. Contudo, a extensã o deste comportamento permanece desconhecida. Neste estudo registramos a predac¸ão de T. jaguaribanus por seu congênere T. hispidus. Este é o primeiro caso de saurofagia entre diferentes espécies de Tropidurus sintó picos. Além disso, embora a saurofagia tenda a ser direcionada contra jovens, este caso envolveu dois indivíduos adultos.

Amphibian foam nests are unique microenvironments that play a crucial role in the development of tadpoles. They contain high levels of proteins and carbohydrates, yet little is known about the impact of their microbiomes on tadpole health. This study provides a first characterization of the microbiome of foam nests from three species of Leptodactylids (Adenomera hylaedactyla, Leptodactylus vastus, and Physalaemus cuvieri) by investigating the DNA extracted from foam nests, adult tissues, soil, and water samples, analyzed via 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to gain insight into the factors driving its composition. The results showed that the dominant phyla were proteobacteria, bacteroidetes, and firmicutes, with the most abundant genera being Pseudomonas, Sphingobacterium, and Paenibacillus. The foam nest microbiomes of A. hylaedactyla and P. cuvieri were more similar to each other than to that of L. vastus, despite their phylogenetic distance. The foam nests demonstrated a distinct microbiome that clustered together and separated from the microbiomes of the environment and adult tissue samples. This suggests that the peculiar foam nest composition shapes its microbiome, rather than vertical or horizontal transference forces. We expanded this knowledge into amphibian foam nest microbiomes, highlighting the importance of preserving healthy foam nests for amphibian conservation.

In 1908, D.S. Jordan J.C. Branner described the following species of fossil fishes from the Araripe Basin: Calamopleurus vestitus, Cearana rochae, Enneles audax, and Tharrias araripis. Such material of the “Rocha Collection”, that was made by Francisco Dias da Rocha (1869-1960), were passed on to the Government of the State of Ceará. In 1961, Carlos de Paula Couto, negotiated the donation of the paleontological collections for the Museu Nacional. We review herein the history of the fossil fishes of the “Rocha Collection” that was housed in the Museu Nacional in, with an emphasis on type material. The documents and literature were consulted, and the fossil fishes were examined and photographed. This material corresponds to 12 catalogue numbers, three of which are replicas of the type- material housed in the Department of Geology, California Academy of Sciences, in California. The remaining nine numbers encompass 27 specimens referring to original material. The represented taxa are: Vinctifer comptoni, Notelops brama, Cladocyclus gardneri, Rhacolepis buccalis, Tharrhias araripis, and Brannerion sp. The only type material found was Cearana rochae, currently a synonym of Tharrhias araripis. This historical rescue of the “Rocha” collection type material will facilitate the investigation of researchers studying the paleoichthyofauna of the Araripe Basin.

The brachiopod fauna of the South Atlantic is significantly abundant and appears to be predominantly composed of cosmopolitan species. However, until now there was no record of inarticulate brachiopods of the Family Lingulidae in this region. The present study describes the first occurrence of lingulid brachiopods in the South Atlantic. Seven specimens were collected on the continental shelf of the Maranhão state, Northeastern Brazil, Western South Atlantic. The individuals were identified as belonging to the genus Lingula. Although brachiopods have great dispersion capability durintg their larval phase, the hypothesis that these specimens arrived on the Brazilian coast as a result of human activities cannot be ruled out. Keywords: Lingula, subfilo Linguliformea, “Inarticulata”, inarticulate brachiopods, Brazil.